3 Reasons the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2018 National League Championship Series

October 22, 2018 Joe Ditzel

So long, Brewers. It was fun. Christian Yelich did a good deed by knocking out a first-inning homer to give Milwaukee hope, kind of like the hope they had in 1982. They sent the California Angels packing in the ALCS (they moved to the NLCS in 1994), and then got edged out by the St. Louis Cardinals in the “Suds Series.”

It wouldn’t have hurt so bad if they lost to the Yankees back then, or even the Phillies. But to lose to another blue collar Midwestern beer-soaked town is a slap in the face. It’s like St. Louis said, “We are just like you, except we are better than you at everything.”

To get so close this year and lose to the Dodgers, well, it stings. Here are three reasons LA won the 2018 NLCS.

Ghost of Harvey’s Wallbangers

The 1982 Brewers hit 216 home runs versus the Cardinal’s paltry 67. That hot-slugging team was quickly nicknamed “Harvey’s Wallbangers” in honor of manager Harvey Kuenn. And they STILL lost the World Series.

This year’s Brewers focused on fielding, great base running and relievers. And they STILL lost the NLCS.

It doesn’t matter what they do, Milwaukee can’t seem to win the big show, instead going home to cry in their beers at Wolski’s Tavern on Pulaski St. They have so many “I Closed Wolski’s” bumper stickers, each Brewers player could cover the walls of their McMansion in Schlitz Park.

Milwaukee Number 10 on Worst City

The Brewers’ ability to win is directly affected by the city itself. For example, Milwaukee came in 10th in 24/7 Wall Street’s recent list of the Worst Cities in the U.S.

Come on, 24/7 Wall Street, have you ever been to Milwaukee? Come to think of it, have you ever been west of the Hudson? Gee, let’s sit in our comfy Wall Street office and pass judgement over the little people in the fly-over states.

Is that your game, 24/7 Wall Street? Well then, let me spray this fine Blatz beer on your $8,000 Florence Knoll table desk, Chad.

Two Seasons

It’s hard to play good baseball when your town only has two seasons: Winter and Light Winter. Light Winter runs from June through August. Unfortunately, the NLCS took place during the months of the Milwaukee winter. Out of habit Brewers players took the field, no matter if it was Beer City or Dodgertown, wearing 3 pairs of long long johns, 2 sweaters, a ski mask, stocking cap, down mittens, sub-zero parka, ski pants and mukluks. It’s hard to make double plays looking like you are going caribou hunting.